Prey for a Miracle (22 page)

“He’s okay. He may be sore for a while, and the cut will have to heal, but nothing’s broken,” Sister Agatha said, glancing down at him affectionately.

“I’m very concerned with how easily he responded to your attack command. Is it safe for us to keep him now after what he went through today?”

“Absolutely, Mother. He obeys the police commands he was taught, but not indiscriminately, and the command has to be given
in German.
All things considered, the monastery couldn’t ask for a better canine friend.”

“You’re right,” Reverend Mother said, nodding. “And now he’s just Pax again.” She smiled as the dog came up and put his nose into her hand, asking to be petted. “Things have worked out well.”

“Yes, they have, Mother,” Sister Agatha answered. “And I have some other good news. Sister Bernarda received a substantial offer from a collector for any angel figures or art Natalie completed while she was our guest.”

“Sell the smaller ones, but we’ll keep Tzuriel.”

“The angel who guards the monastery,” Sister Agatha said. “Good choice, Mother.”

Sister Ignatius approached and fell into step beside them as they continued to walk. “I’m going to miss baking our altar breads and cookies.”

Reverend Mother smiled. “We’re getting excellent terms for licensing the cookies to the bakery, and expect a steady return from the profits. But we’ll have to find something that’ll allow us to fulfill the rule requiring us to live by the work of our hands.”

“I’ve been praying that God will lead us to the right thing,” Sister Ignatius said. “As a sign, I’ve asked He send us a gentle, peaceful light, one that is present where no other light shines,” Sister Ignatius said.

“That leaves a lot of room for interpretation,” Sister Agatha said with a tiny smile.

They’d only walked a few more feet when Sister Ignatius gasped and pointed across the river to the west. “There’s our sign!”

For a split second the three of them saw a glowing cloud that shimmered in the fading light.

A sudden flaring up of flames from burning leaves, Sister Agatha concluded, or maybe headlights shining into a cloud of dust generated by a vehicle. In the time it took her to blink, the haze vanished.

“Did you see it?” Sister Ignatius said in an excited voice.

Reverend Mother smiled. “You’re right, child. It was a gentle light. We can expect our answers soon, then.”

As the bell for Compline sounded, Sister Agatha bowed her head and hurried to the chapel, along with the sisters and Reverend Mother. Another day was done and, under His wings, they would find refuge from the night.